Trailblazers has had many satisfied participants, some have told us about their experiences, and what they got from the course.
Angela Cook, a practice nurse, from Church Road Surgery, Aston, Birmingham, tells us her story, about her experiences with Trailblazers.
I enjoy my job as a practice nurse, finding it varied and interesting. However despite 22yrs of wide experience there was one topic, mental health, where my knowledge and experience had remained very limited. And yet it was clear to me in my work that this was an area where practice nurses could play an important role.
As practice nurses we deal with mental health issues on a daily basis often without realising we do.
In 2006 the GP I work with invited me to attend trailblazers with him to develop a mental health project for our practice which would transfer some aspects of mental health from secondary care into primary care. The idea sounded good and the project achievable, and so despite having no idea what trailblazers was or what it entailed I agreed to attend. As I went along for the first day I wondered what had I let myself in for?
I knew I was out of my depth and thought “what have I done”? My knowledge in relation to mental health was very limited.
My first day on trailblazers
All the other trailblazers on the course seemed so knowledgeable in this area. I need not have worried. I warmed to my new colleagues and learnt so much. My initial sense of feeling lost and alone became rapidly replaced by the realisation that as a practice nurse I could offer so much to certain patients with mental health problems.
Trailblazers fired my ambition to learn more about mental health.
I desperately searched for a training course specifically aimed at practice nurses, ‘googling’ for appropriate NHS websites, enquiring from my local PCT. Nothing! But I do not give up easily! Surely there must be something out there for training practice nurses in the field of mental health? ‘BINGO!’ After months of searching, I discovered the Changing Minds Mental Health & Wellbeing distance learning course. Now half way through the course my knowledge and skills are already increasing and I am gaining confidence in dealing with patients who have mental health problems.
What did Trailblazers do for the care I gave my patients?
Case of Maureen
52 yrs old, regularly attends my clinic for her 4 weekly Fluphenazine depot injection
o Dec 07 Maureen requests home visit from GP, who administered her injection.
o Jan 08 I was on annual leave and assumed she would attend for her injection.
o Feb 08 alarm bells rang for me when Maureen failed to attend my clinic
o I checked records to find she had had no injection since Dec07. I contacted CPN who agreed to visit Maureen; no reply &left note requesting her contact me ASAP
o Maureen attended my clinic distressed, tearful, low and admitting to drinking.
o Discussed with GP; depot given and commenced anti-depressant.
o I contacted CPN; informed them Maureen had attended and of her state of mind
o CPN then arranged for further assessment by psychiatrist.
A few months ago I would have lacked the confidence to deal with this situation and would have left it for the GP and CPN to resolve. This case study highlights how far I have come. I have built up a stronger rapport with the patient but have also built bridges with the community mental health team.
In summary, Trailblazers inspired and acted as a driving force for me to expand my knowledge and skills in this field. It confirmed my strong belief that practice nurses with adequate training can play a vital role in delivering mental health care working collaboratively with the mental health team. Trailblazers gave me the confidence to realise my potential.